1937 Merle Haggard born in Bakersfield, Californiia. US Country singer/Songwriter. He died on his birthday, April 6th 2016, of complications from pneumonia at his home in Palo Cedro, California.
1942 Christopher Franke born in Berlin, Germany. German musician and composer. From 1971 to 1987 he was a member of the electronic group Tangerine Dream.(1974 UK No.15 album ‘Phaedra’).
1943 Julie Rogers (Julie Rolls) born in London, England. UK Singer. She had a top 10 hit in 1964 with ‘The Wedding’.
1944 Michelle Gilliam Phillips born in Long Beach, California. US Singer with The Mamas & Papas.
1944 John Stax – Bass Guitarist with The Pretty Things, (1964 UK No.10 single ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’).
1947 Tony Connor born in Romford, Essex. UK Drummer with Hot Chocolate from 1974.
1951 Ralph Cooper born in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. Australian Drummer with Air Supply.
1952 Patrick Hernandez born in Belgium. Singer with one hit “Born To Be Alive” in 1979.
1956 Elvis Presley signed a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures.
1957 “Little Darlin'” by The Diamonds peaked at #2 on the pop singles chart.
1957 “Round And Round” by Perry Como peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart.
1957 “Marianne” by Terry Gilkyson & The Easy Riders peaked at #4 on the US singles chart.
1957 “Marianne” by The Hilltoppers peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1959 “It’s Just A Matter Of Time” by Brook Benton peaked at #3 on the US singles chart.
1959 “It’s Late” by Ricky Nelson peaked at #9 on the US singles chart.
1959 “Never Be Anyone Else But You” by Ricky Nelson peaked at #6 on the US singles chart.
1959 “Sea Cruise” by Frankie Ford peaked at #14 on the US singles chart.
1960 The Everly Brothers started their first UK concert tour at London’s New Victoria Theatre, supported by The Crickets.
1962 Stan Cullimore (Ian Cullimore) – UK Guitarist, Singer & Songwriter with the Housemartins.
1965 Frank Black, (born Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV) guitarist, singer, Pixies, (1990 UK No.28 single ‘Velouria’, 1998 album Surfer Rosa). Formed Frank Black and the Catholics in 1993, Pixies reformed in 2004. Has released over 10 solo albums.
1966 The first session of what would become The Beatles album ‘Revolver’ started in the evening at Abbey Road studios London, with the recording of the basic track of ‘Tomorrow Never Knows.’
1965 Beach Boys recorded the hit single ‘California Girls’.
1967 “Bernadette” by Four Tops peaked at #4 on the US singles chart.
1967 The first master tape of The Beatles new album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was made. The song order on side one is different from the final product at this point, the last five songs on that side being initially ordered as follows: ‘Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite’, ‘Fixing a Hole’, ‘Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds’, ‘Getting Better’, and ‘She’s Leaving Home’. The Beatles had specified that there were to be no gaps between songs – a unique idea at the time.
1968 “Greatest Hits” album by Ray Charles was certified Gold by the RIAA
1968 “La – La – Means I Love You” by The Delfonics peaked at #4 on the US singles chart.
1968 Cliff Richard sang ‘Congratulations’ the UK entry in the Eurovision Song Contest held at the Royal Albert Hall London, winning second place behind the entry from Spain.
1968 Simon & Garfunkel went to No.1 on the US album chart with The Graduate. Inclduing ‘Mrs Robinson’, ‘The Sound Of Silence’ & ‘Scarborough Fair/Canticle’.
1968 “Young Girl” by Union Gap & Gary Puckett peaked at #2 on the US singles chart
1968 “The Mighty Quinn” by Manfred Mann hit #1 on the U.K. pop chart.
1968 Pink Floyd announced founder Syd Barrett had officially left the group. Barrett was suffering from psychiatric disorders compounded by drug use.
1968 The Beatles Apple Corps Ltd. record company, management and publishing firm, opened their offices in London.
1971 “Friends” album by Elton John was certified Gold by the RIAA
1971 “Whales & Nightingales” album by Judy Collins was certified Gold by the RIAA. Including ‘Amazing Grace’.
1971 Carly Simon was introduced to James Taylor after her show at the Troubadour, Los Angeles. The couple married on 3rd November 1972.
1971 The Rolling Stones launched their own record label, ‘Rolling Stones Records’, with Atlantic Records.
1973 The Stylistics received a gold record for their ballad hit, “Break Up to Make Up”. The Philadelphia soul group placed 10 hits on the pop charts in the 1970s. More of their gold record winners include: “You Are Everything”, “Betcha By Golly Wow”, “I’m Stone In Love With You” and “You Make Me Feel Brand New”.
1974 Abba won the Eurovision song contest with Waterloo.
1974 Swedish act Blue Swede went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Hooked On A Feeling’. The single didn’t chart in the UK.
1974 “Seasons In The Sun” by Terry Jacks peaked at #1 on the U.K. pop singles chart
1974 The California Jam 1 festival took place in Ontario, California, featuring The Eagles, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Earth Wind and Fire, ELP, Black Oak Arkansas and Seals & Croft. Over 200,000 fans attended.
1977 “Don’t Give Up On Us” single by David Soul was certified Gold by the RIAA
1978 Myleene Klass born in Gorleston, Norfolk, England. English singer, pianist, media personality and model, best known as a member of the now defunct pop band Hear’Say (2001 UK No.1 single ‘Pure And Simple’). Now works as a TV presenter and model.
1978 “Can’t Smile Without You” single by Barry Manilow was certified Gold by the RIAA
1978 Our Love” single by Natalie Cole was certified Gold by the RIAA
1979 “Heart Of Glass” single by Blondie was certified Gold by the RIAA. Was it rock and roll? New wave? Many thought it was disco. Oddly enough, the song was formerly called “The Disco Song” according to one source. With rock and roll crossing into disco, Rod Stewart just did it earlier, it wouldn’t be long before Paul McCartney, KISS, and who knows, would join in. Steve Dahl would later blow up the disco records in a baseball game this July in protest to the movement.
1979 “Livin’ It Up” single by Bell & James was certified Gold by the RIAA
1979 “Reunited” single by Peaches & Herb was certified Gold by the RIAA
1979 Rod Stewart married actor George Hamilton’s ex-wife Alana Hamilton in Beverly Hills, California.
1984 Ral Donner – US Singer, nick name “Chicago-Elvis”, died of cancer. (Born 10th Feb 1943)
1985 “Somebody” by Bryan Adams peaked at #11 on the US singles chart
1985 UK singer, songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan won a lawsuit against his manager Gordon Mills for unpaid royalties and was awarded $2 million.
1985 Paul Young scored his second UK No.1 album with ‘The Secret Of Association.’
1987 “The Bridge” album by Billy Joel was certified Multi Platinum 2.00 by the RIAA. ‘Including ‘A Matter Of Trust’, ‘Modern Woman’, ‘This Is The Time’ & ‘Baby Grand’
1987 Roger Waters’ lawyers issued a statement that Roger believed himself to be the creative driving force behind Pink Floyd and therefore he would contest the use of the name by anyone else and any former members of Pink Floyd.
1989 “Watermark” album by Enya was certified Gold by the RIAA
1994 “Serious Hits … Live!” album by Phil Collins was certified Multi Platinum 2.00 by the RIAA
1994 “The Sign” single by Ace Of Base was certified Platinum by the RIAA
1998 “Always” single by Bon Jovi was certified Platinum by the RIAA
1998 US Country Singer Tammy Wynette dies in her sleep at her Nashville home aged 55.
1998 “Paint The Sky With Stars – The Best Of Enya” album by Enya was certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA
1998 “Rumours” album by Fleetwood Mac was certified Multi Platinum 18.00 by the RIAA. Including ‘Dreams, ‘Don’t Stop’, ‘Go Your Own Way’, ‘You Make Loving Fun’ ‘The Chain’ & ‘Songbird’.
1998 Wendy O. Williams former singer of The Plasmatics died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Williams was known for her wild stage theatrics which included blowing up equipment, near nudity and chain-sawing guitars. In January 1981 police in Milwaukee arrested her for simulating sex on stage, later that same year in Cleveland, Ohio Williams was acquitted of an obscenity charge for simulating sex on stage wearing only shaving cream.
1998 American country singer Tammy Wynette died aged 55. She scored 12 hit singles including ‘Stand By Your Man’, and sold over 30 million records world-wide, married five times and once filed for bankruptcy. Known as the first lady of country music. Wynette had the 1991 hit with The KLF ‘Justified and Ancient’ which became a No. 1 hit in eighteen countries.
1999 An all star tribute to singer, songwriter Johnny Cash took place in New York City with Sheryl Crow, Chris Isaak and U2 all performing for the TV special.
2000 “Pet Sounds” album by The Beach Boys was certified Platinum by the RIAA. It was released over three decades ago! Including ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, ‘Sloop Johh B’ & ‘God Only Knows’.
2000 An all-star tribute to Joni Mitchell was held at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City featuring performances by Elton John, Bryan Adams, Shawn Colvin, James Taylor, Cyndi Lauper, Richard Thompson, k.d. Lang, and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
2000 Eighties pop star Steve Strange lead singer of Visage – was arrested after stealing a £10.99 Teletubbies doll in Bridgend, south Wales. He was given a suspended jail sentence after being caught on a shoplifting spree stealing cosmetics and clothes from High Street stores. Strange was already on bail for stealing a £15 ladies’ jacket from Marks and Spencer in Cardiff when he was arrested.
2003 White Stripes went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Elephant’, the duo’s second album.
2003 Linkin Park started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Meteroa’ the bands first US and UK No.1 album.
2004 Guitarist and singer Niki Sullivan, died suddenly of a heart attack, at his home in Independence, Missouri aged 66. Sullivan was one of the three original members of Buddy Holly’s backing group, The Crickets. He co-wrote a number of his hit songs and sang back-up vocals on 27 of the 32 songs Buddy recorded over his brief career.
2006 Eminem filed for divorce from his wife Kim less than three months after the couple re-married. Eminem first married his high school sweetheart Kimberly Scott in 1999. He fantasised about her death in his 2000 hit ‘Kim’ and their first marriage ended the following year. The couple remarried on 14 January 2006. Eminem was seeking joint custody of their 10-year-old daughter Hailie Jade Scott.
2008 R.E.M. went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Accelerate’ the bands fourteenth studio album.
2009 PRS for Music announced that the money made by UK artists overseas increased by £20m ($29.45) in 2008, with British talent earning almost £140m ($206.23) in 2008. It said international tours by UK acts including The Police, Coldplay, Elton John and Iron Maiden had boosted income. Four of the top 10 bestselling albums globally were by British artists, Coldplay’s Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends was the bestselling album, with 6.8 million copies sold, while Welsh singer-songwriter Duffy was fourth with her debut album Rockferry, Leona Lewis and Amy Winehouse were sixth and seventh respectively.
2016 American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler, Merle Haggard died of complications from pneumonia at his home in Palo Cedro, California. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band the Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the twang of Fender Telecaster and the unique mix with the traditional country steel guitar sound. Haggard scored over 10 US Country No.1 albums during his career.